Sue Sena
Co-Founder and President

Sue first knew she was a fag hag at age 12 or 13 while performing as one of the Hollywood Blondes in a production of Gyspy at a community theater in suburban Madison, NJ. She didn’t understand what all the fuss was about Herbie’s lisp! Sue has spent her entire professional career developing non-profit organizations in the NYC metro area, and recently started her own non-profit consulting practice. She couldn’t be happier about the co-existence of her creative, professional, and personal lives through her involvement in Swish. For Sue, Swish is a public and political expression of her love for her gay boyfriends present and angelic, and all of the LGBT people who have enriched her life. She lives in the beautiful Astoria, Queens neighborhood in New York with the gayest straight man on the planet, Sean.  She says, "I Swish because I can't not."

Mark von der Heide
Co-Founder, Vice President, and Hollywood Husband to Sue Sena

Sue and Mark have been friends for over almost two decades (don’t do the math). The circumstances under which they met would be right at home on reality TV ... suffice it to say it was another lifetime. But even as a child, Mark had a flair for the dramatic and knew he wanted to be in show business (in New Jersey?). He loved camp, but just went to camp. He adored game shows, Bugs Bunny (in drag!), Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin in Laugh-in, The Carol Burnett Show, and General Hospital. OK, so it took a while to realize he had the gay gene. He finally decided to make the leap into show biz when working backstage at the Aspen Music Festival in 1983 and discovered you got chocolate covered strawberries and champagne! (He met John Ritter and Dudley Moore, and was in the same room as Babs!) So it was all starting to come together ... It took several more years to leap out of the closet, but now Mark is entrenched in LA with a 15-year career in post production at Disney, following a seven-year stint in NY for a TV music production company, working on guess what? Game shows and soap operas! After Luke and Laura’s big TV wedding, his dream was to set foot in the Quatermaine mansion, and he lived it in 1990 when he was sent to the set (for work!) and had his first taste of LA, Antonio Sabato Jr., and the yellow brick road ... which has led to numerous friendships and opportunities to enlighten the world on equal rights and further the mission of Swish. He can now add music producer to his array of colorful hats, with three Top 20 Billboard club singles to his credit in 2008. It has indeed been, and continues to be, a fabulous journey with the best yet to come!

Jamie Lloyd
Co-Founder, Secretary, and Homo Matchmaker (est. 1994)

Jamie has been a true-blue fag hag since the age of 10, although she didn’t know it, when she met and fell madly in love with her church pastor, whose charming, gentle, and monastic demeanor (unsuccessfully) masked a fabulous diva-bitch personality longing to break free. His death from AIDS in 1987 devastated her, and perhaps stirred the first flickering flames of homo-worship. Eight years later, her best friend came roaring out of the closet with a vengeance and took her on a journey she has yet to fully process, a whirlwind of love, joy, and celebration of the most amazing people in the world. Her favorite things: dancing all night, laughing very loudly in public, and giving her loved ones lengthy, bone-crushing hugs. Her favorite places: the Brooklyn Bridge at night, any NYC rooftop, and any place there’s a good martini to be had. Her favorite people: the boys who add shimmery ribbons of color to this gray world, and the girls who give them strength and hope and every bit of love in their hearts. With her friends by her side, there is no wall that can’t be knocked down, no mind that can’t be changed, no intolerance that can’t be eradicated. They are, quite simply, the lifeblood that powers her heart, and she is so grateful to know and love so many of them. Long live Swish—honey, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! By day, Jamie runs the hell out of the Sociology Department at New York University, is a daring chef, and is the editor-in-chief of the blog she founded, The Gotham Glutton. Jamie says: "I Swish because my gay friends have given me the world, and I want to give it right back to them."

Adrienne D. Capps, CFRE
Treasurer and Le Chef Vegetarische

Adrienne has spent her career committed to the nonprofit sector serving as a professional fundraiser. She has raised nearly $20 million for a variety of causes, including at-risk youth, mental health, and higher education in VA, NY and CA. She and her partner of 12 years, Michael, are also extremely passionate about gay rights; committing not to marry until marriage is a free and equal right for all. Adrienne is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and an editor/author on the book, The Green Nonprofits Handbook. She also recently launched a social venture, Vintners Charitable Cooperative, where nonprofit supporters can drink charitably by joining a wine club that gives 50% of profits to charity (www.charityvintner.org) and runs a food blog, www.vegetarianized.com. Adrienne holds a B.S. in Business Administration, with honors, and B.A. in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond, a Certificate in Fundraising Administration from New York University and an M.B.A. in Financial Management, with honors, from Pace Universityin New York City. She has served on the Board of Swish since 2004 and became Treasurer in 2008. In her spare time, Adrienne is a freelance food/wine writer and teaches cooking classes.
 

Jason Bowman (aka Jaybo, not to be confused with J. Lo)
Co-Founder, Board Member, and Gay Travel Buddy to Jamie Lloyd

“Swish for me is more than a bunch of friends on a kitschy float wheeling down Fifth Avenue. It is a symbol of unity and love and joy of life. It celebrates the simple truth that befriending difference is a key ingredient to the evolution of our world.” Jason has been committed to Swish’s growth since its founding and has generously contributed to its success in bringing straight people into the gay rights movement. Over the years, he has organized numerous events and fundraisers to support Swish and represented the organization at EuroPride 2008 in Stockholm. One of his personal goals is to start a mentorship program where Swish engages younger generations into forming gay-straight alliances in their hometowns. Jason is the director of NYC’s acclaimed Fountain Gallery, the premier exhibition space for artists living and working with mental illness. Since 2003, he has expanded its operation, which represents a core group of 40 artists and exhibits the work of emerging and self-taught artists from around the world. Jason is currently obtaining a master’s degree in public policy and administration at Columbia University.

Josh Tjaden
Board Member and Sensitive Fag Hag Magnet

Josh came to Swish by way of a self-invitation to a weekend get-away in 2005, and has been hooked on the culture of the organization ever since.  Since moving to New York from London, where he studied Art History and Fine Arts at Richmond University, Josh graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a degree in Art History & Arts Administration.  Josh has worked for MZA Events, as an Event Manager for AIDS Walk New York and AIDS Walk Los Angeles; as the Special Event Manager for Empire State Pride Agenda; and helped to found Stone Soup Theatre Arts in New York City.  Josh is currently splitting his time between New York and Washington, while he serves as a Major Gifts Officer for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a non-profit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT).  Since childhood, Josh has been actively involved with many socially-conscious, progressive organizations and movements, and credits Swish with reinvigorating his passion for LGBT activism.  Most recently, Josh played an active role in the production of the National Equality March in Washington, DC in October of 2009.  Much in the way of props go out to Sam, Reyna and Tirtzah - Josh’s three most dedicated female friends over the years.

H.L. Ray
Board Member and Diva-Worshipper

H.L. is extremely excited and honored to be part of the Swish family. He recently completed his International MBA at the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, where his studies took him to Mexico, Chile, China and, ultimately, New York. He now works full time in marketing, sales and promotion in the live entertainment industry. H.L. first learned about Swish during his semester in Beijing, China. One early morning at a business school event, H.L.’s diva-dar (one which is very accurate and precise) directed him to international diva extraordinaire and Swish member Andromeda Turre who was performing in Beijing. The two hit it off instantaneously and agreed to ditch the event for brunch at the nearest five star hotel. When H.L. made the move to New York, Andromeda introduced him to Sue and the Swish gang who welcomed him with open arms. H.L. deeply values the support of the straight community in the GLBT movement for equality, and is thrilled to be working with Swish in providing opportunities for involvement. He draws inspiration from his straight family and friends who upon his coming out reevaluated their views and joined the movement.